The Mercer County Association of Realtors (MCAR) would like to clarify that the realtors support redevelopment in West Windsor around Princeton Junction Train Station and the township’s efforts to move the process along. We are concerned that our position may have been clouded by a recent mailer that took an editorial I wrote as president of MCAR and reproduced it without our members’ knowledge or consent.
The purpose of MCAR’s editorial, which originally appeared in the paper this February, was to express the realtors’ dismay over the deteriorating condition of Route 571. This is still our concern today. Our letter had nothing to do with the property that InterCap owns on the other side of the tracks nor was it written in support of the related lawsuit as the mailer may have portrayed.
The Township has been very open to the realtors’ concerns about the declining state of downtown Princeton Junction and is working to improve the current situation. We are in agreement that improving Route 571 is critical to residents’ property values, the quality of life in West Windsor, and the long-term economic health of the township. It is unfortunate that progress in this key part of the redevelopment area is being slowed by an expensive lawsuit.
West Windsor residents deserve a main street they can be proud of — not further delays and distractions. MCAR looks forward to continuing to work with the township to make real progress in helping West Windsor reach its full potential. This is in the best interest of us all.
Ellen Affel
President, Mercer County
Association of Realtors
It was really good to see the informative letter from Mayor Hsueh regarding InterCap’s misleading West Windsor-wide mailing. The mayor focused on erroneous statements about the lawsuit InterCap has filed against the township, but there were other misleading elements in the mailer that also should be aired.
The mailer calls on citizens to ask their elected officials to settle the “redevelopment lawsuit” and illustrates its plea with pictures of now-deteriorated downtown Route 571. This is misleading the public; settling the lawsuit would not have any effect on Route 571. InterCap owns no property on 571, and although its web site has pretty pictures of what 571 could look like, they are just that: pictures. Anyone can draw pictures.
The mailer also reproduces a letter from the president of the Mercer County Association of Realtors, pointing out that realtors support the redevelopment plan and that the condition of downtown Princeton Junction lowers property values in West Windsor. But it does not follow that realtors therefore automatically support InterCap’s lawsuit, as the mailer misleadingly tries to imply.
The realtors are right, the health of downtown Princeton Junction is desperately important. It should not be muddied by attempts to link it to a lawsuit regarding property on the other side of the tracks. We request that the Mayor and Council focus on what has become the true redevelopment –– Route 571.
David and Bonnie Bivins
Meg and Giuliano Chicco
Farrell Delman
Jerry Foster and Sharon Waters
Lee Goldberg
Marshall & Sheila Lerner
Virginia Manzari, Alison Miller
Hemi Nae, Pattie & Ahmed Reslan
Arnold and Gordana Sirota
Kathy Stratton & Steve Meersma
